BRAMHALL student Alex Wickham looks to be on the verge of an exciting 2007 with his energetic young mod/indie band, Sound Club.

Twenty-year-old bassist Alex, who studies Sports Science at Leeds Met University but spent his formative years at Bramhall High School and Aquinas College, is set for a hectic year, with the bright lights of Manchester and London beckoning.

Alex said: "We've been drawing in the crowds at gigs in Leeds and Oldham in particular, and everything is really positive at the moment.

"All the lads in the band just love our music, so if we can keep getting more and more people into it, then that's great."

Influenced by artists such as Noel Gallagher, Paul Weller, the Stone Roses and the Small Faces, Sound Club play uplifting indie and rock 'n' roll tunes, with the aim of getting people up and dancing.

Much of their wholly original set contains anthemic songs, sing-along choruses that get crowds going with their energy and verve.

As a unit, Sound Club are tight, and really work hard to make their shows a success. They want their audiences to simply enjoy, and so far that attitude appears to be paying dividends.

A demo CD, containing three tracks - Gamblers Dream, Don't Let Them Bring You Down and Devil Dust - has gone down well, and has been afforded some radio airplay.

Sound Club have definitely got plenty going for them at present.

Since forming in 2005, positive vibes and a hugely enthusiastic fan base have steadily increased, and now fans and broadcasters from much further afield than Greater Manchester and Yorkshire are expressing an interest.

You can catch Sound Club live at the Castle in Oldham on Saturday, March 24, and at the Witchwood in Ashton-under-Lyne on Thursday, April 12.